Togo moves to formalize organic farming standards through new national framework

TOGO – Togo has started the final validation of a national reference framework for organic production, a move that sector players say will bring order, clarity, and better market access to a field that has long operated without shared national standards.

The validation process began during a workshop held in Lomé on Tuesday, February 03, 2026. The National Association of Organic Agriculture in Togo, known as ANABIO-Togo, is leading the process with support from German cooperation agency GIZ. Producers, agroecological farms, and technical actors are taking part.

Until now, organic production in Togo has grown in a loose setting, with no single national document to guide certification and production practices. This gap has made it harder for local producers to certify their goods and reach formal markets.

According to ANABIO-Togo president Dr. Combé K. Sélom Anani, the idea of a shared framework started several years ago. “Our commitment began in 2020 when we thought with the actors about how to define ourselves a framework for the production and marketing of Togolese identity products in the Bio-SPG system,” he said. “We worked directly with producers and agroecological farms to put this document together.”

The Bio-SPG system already exists as an internationally recognized Togolese standard. The new framework builds on this base while adapting it to local needs and realities.

What the framework covers

The document sets clear requirements for organic crop and animal production, as well as rules linked to governance and control. Dr. Essot’na Héyou Bodjona, Director General of the Togolese Agency for Standardization, said the framework brings all these elements into one reference text. “It brings together requirements not only for organic production, but also for plant and animal production and governance,” he explained.

Once validated, the framework should allow Togolese producers to access organic certification more easily. Sector actors also expect it to support agroecology and encourage higher consumption of locally produced food.

The Lomé workshop follows earlier exchanges held in Atakpame, Kpalimé, and Sokodé, where producers shared input from different regions of the country.

The push to structure organic farming comes as other agricultural efforts gain attention in Togo. In Lomé, inventor Sam Kodo has built what he describes as Africa’s first agricultural robot through his company Infinite Loop. His FarmBot uses recycled parts and artificial intelligence to help farmers track crops and apply pesticides with less manual work.

“Among my many inventions, the one I personally find most satisfying is the design of the very first solar powered computer made in Togo, called SmartBag,” Kodo said, pointing to earlier work that linked technology and education.

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